Intelligently hidden panel not restored by mouse movement consistently

[wm4049]

Distribution

Mint 21.2 Cinnamon

Package version

5.8.4

Graphics hardware in use

Intel UHD Graphics

Frequency

Always

Bug description

This is a regression from Linux Mint 20.3 / Cinnamon 5.2.7. The system has no Cinnamon extensions or modifications.

When the task panel is at the bottom of the screen and intelligently hidden due to (ex.) an application that fills the screen, moving the mouse cursor down over the panel area does not open the panel consistently. This occurs when the mouse happens to land in an area that has no application icons (left side) or system icons (right side). Unfortunately, when the panel is hidden, the location of those icons isn't apparent.

Steps to reproduce

1. Install a stock system with a small number of apps added to the panel.
2. Panel > Panel Visibility > Auto-hide panel set to "Intelligently hide panel"
3. Open an application (ex. GNOME Terminal) that covers the bottom area of the screen. (This causes the panel to "intelligently hide".)
4. Move the mouse cursor to the bottom center of the screen where the panel has no icons

Expected behavior

An intelligently hidden panel should appear when the mouse moves over a region it occupies when visible. It's horizontal position relative to any icons on the panel should not matter. (This behavior was correct in Mint 20.3 / Cinnamon 5.2.7.)

Additional information

No response

[claudiux]

Can't reproduce this issue.

[AJSchiller]

I'm having much the same problem, only in my case it's specifically with the panel at the top of the screen. Happens even with a new, completely empty panel, and in both "intelligently hide" and "auto hide" modes.

System info:
System:
Kernel: 6.2.0-37-generic x86_64 bits: 64
Desktop: Cinnamon 5.8.4 Distro: Linux Mint 21.2 Victoria
Machine:
Type: Laptop System: Framework product: Laptop v: AB
Graphics:
Device-1: Intel TigerLake-LP GT2 [Iris Xe Graphics] driver: i915 v: kernel
Device-2: Realtek Laptop Camera type: USB driver: uvcvideo
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.4 driver: X: loaded: modesetting
unloaded: fbdev,vesa gpu: i915 resolution: 2256x1504~60Hz
OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel Xe Graphics (TGL GT2)
v: 4.6 Mesa 23.0.4-0ubuntu1~22.04.1

[rcalixte]

I actually had this problem for the longest time. I wasn't able to find the root cause but I finally found a fix of sorts by adjusting the panel height by at least one pixel. I had it set at 50 px but setting it to 51 px resolved the issue for me. (I tested with a slew of values in that range and only 50 px exactly causes the problem for me even now.)

It would be helpful to know what settings and hardware are in use that replicate the issue. I can only replicate it on my Framework (12th Gen) and no other device.

[wm4049]

Running Linux Mint in a VM, the default panel height is set to 40. Using the Panel editor, I changed that to 41 and it resolved the problem. Returning the height to 40 did not break the improved behavior. Perhaps it isn't the new panel height but the change which helped. Does changing the height through the Panel editor (GUI) update a configuration file and/or value(s) that was/were missing?

[AJSchiller]

So... mine suddely works again. I'm not sure why, I don't think I've installed any updates or changed anything in the system.

I just randomly created a new, empty panel at the top of the screen (which was the only problematic edge for me), and intelligent hide was suddenly working properly. Decided to try it again with my actual panel with the system tray and applets in it - I had it temporarily on a different edge, so moved it back to the top as is. It didn't immediately work, but after resizing the panel (back to 40, after having it set narrower) it reappears promptly whenever the cursor reaches that part of the screen. Restarted Cinammon and everything seems to be fine now.

[AJSchiller]

Quick follow up - dual monitor setup seems to affect panel behaviour:

• When connected to external monitor, the panel (present only on the laptop screen) behaves like auto-hide though it is set to intelligently hide. Panel width doesn't affect behaviour.
• When external monitor is disconnected, intelligently hide works as expected, unless panel width is set to default value (40).

[AJSchiller]

OK, so I've just reconnected the external monitor for the first time since my last post and the top-edge panel again fails to reappear when cursor hovers over panel area, but only when external monitor is connected.

@claudiux could you try to reproduce this with an external monitor and see if you get anywhere?

[rcalixte]

OK, so I've just reconnected the external monitor for the first time since my last post and the top-edge panel again fails to reappear when cursor hovers over panel area, but only when external monitor is connected.

And this stays true if you adjust the panel height?

[claudiux]

@claudiux could you try to reproduce this with an external monitor and see if you get anywhere?

Sorry, I no longer have an external monitor.

[AJSchiller]

And this stays true if you adjust the panel height?

Yes.

[mysteryx93]

Just did a clean install in a VM. Auto-hidden panel is now shown at all by the mouse hovering, and changing the panel size does not help.

[Developer-SAIF]

I was having the same problem with just the top panel of the screen.

I couldn't access the panel from any opened application, even if it was set to intelligently hide or auto hide. Even if I forced try to access the panel using the super key, the panel's icons didn't respond when I clicked on them.

My initial upper panel height was 24px. But resizing it to 40px fixed the problem. The issue stayed fixed even when I resized it back to 24px.

My system info,
OS: Linuxmint 21.3 virginia
Kernel: x86_64 Linux 5.15.0-107-generic
Resolution: 1366x768

[LinuxOnTheDesktop]

I have a new 'Framework 13' laptop (which by default, under Mint, scales DPI at x2). I find that a top panel set to auto-hide never unhides itself.

[LinuxOnTheDesktop]

For those on Framework laptops: a left panel (I have not tested a right or bottom panel) works with auto-hiding. Cf. #12367.